Wellington College
Wellington College is one of the UK’s — and indeed the world’s — great coeducational boarding and day schools. It seeks to provide young people with the knowledge, skills and character to serve and help shape a better world. Its innovative and interesting use of technology in the classroom combined with its emphasis on pupil-centred learning ensures that Wellington is at the forefront of educational advance.
A exciting fusion of heritage and modernity characterises our educational philosophy. Our curriculum, facilities and teaching methods are constantly adapting to the challenges of preparing young people for the ever-changing world of the 21st century. Wellington College is a school which is dynamic in every sense of the word, and yet all that we do is rooted firmly in our five College values — Kindness, Courage, Respect, Integrity and Responsibility — values which underpin every aspect of life at Wellington.
Wellington prides itself on the outstanding levels of pastoral support we offer our pupils. Pupil and staff-led mental health initiatives, alongside our nationally recognised Wellbeing curriculum not only help our pupils successfully navigate their teenage years, but also prepare them for healthy, happy and successful lives after school.
The College, which offers GCSEs, A Levels and the IB Diploma, is celebrated not only for its academic achievements but also for its world-renowned sporting, artistic and dramatic provision. Stellar examination results, a richly varied co-curriculum, and a raft of national accolades contribute to the College’s national and international reputation.
Category: Senior, Sixth Form
Pupils: Co-Education
Type: Boarding and Day
Religious Affiliation: Church of England
Roll: 594 Boys / / 546 Girls
Day pupils: 231
Boarder Number: 909
Age Range: 13-18 Years
Founded: 1853
Location Description
Nestled in a stunning 400-acre parkland campus, Wellington is situated in Crowthorne about 35 miles to the south west of London and can be reached by road from either the M3 or M4 motorway. Crowthorne railway station enjoys direct rail links to Reading and Guildford, and the closest airports are Heathrow (around 30 minutes’ drive) and Gatwick (just over an hour).
School Contact Details
Headteacher: Mr James Dahl, MA
Contact for enquiries:Mr Phil Mann, BSc, Director of Admissions
Duke's Ride, Crowthorne, Berkshire, RG45 7PU
Tel: 01344 444 013
Email: admissions@wellingtoncollege.org.uk
Facilities
Wellington College is blessed with world-class facilities. Standing in its own enclosed 400-acre campus it offers the very best provision for academic study, musical, dramatic and artistic expression, and sporting choice and excellence.
Academic
Separate and fully resourced teaching blocks for Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Design Engineering ensure our STEM provision is second to none.
A standalone Modern Foreign Languages building with fully equipped sound laboratory and a variety of small and large teaching spaces.
A four classroom and unique Mandarin Centre at the heart of the College.
A Humanities teaching block for Economics, Business, History and Geography – with a separate, six classroom Classics Department.
A brand-new teaching block for English, Philosophy, Psychology and Wellbeing.
All departments are equipped with the latest in AV technology – and all boast unique Harkness tables that promote the growth of independent research and study.
The Mallinson Library lies at the very centre of the College and is equipped with university level digital research facility, eight private study rooms and pods and a large selection of contemporary and traditional fiction.
Arts
With the two-tier 900 seat Annenberg Auditorium, the more intimate Christopher Lee Theatre, five other performance spaces, two separate Music buildings (which contain over 20 practice rooms), a dance studio, a recording suite, TV station and radio studio, and the uniquely designed Grimshaw Art School, few schools worldwide are able to match Wellington College’s provision for the Arts.
Sport
Two floodlit AstroTurf pitches, a modern, well-equipped sports hall and an even newer indoor netball, tennis and cricket centre. Add in 16 rugby and football pitches, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, 22 hard tennis courts, 9 cricket pitches, 2 lacrosse pitches and 10 netball courts and you begin to see the extent of our sporting provision. We also have a gym, a dance studio, basketball and volleyball courts, a recently refurbished rackets court, and a brand-new real tennis court. There is plenty of provision for squash and badminton and a challenging climbing wall, an indoor shooting range and outdoor clay pigeon range contribute to the variety of activities possible here. A nationally acclaimed nine-hole golf course, perhaps lays claim to being the jewel in Wellington’s sporting crown. 2019 also saw the opening of a new sports centre housing two indoor tennis and netball courts and four cricket lanes.
Scholarships
Detailed information about the Scholarships available on entry at age 13+ or 16+ can be found on the College’s website. Scholarships at 13+ are only awarded in Academics and Music. The most prestigious named Academic Scholarships and Scholarships in other disciplines (Art, Drama, Dance and Sport) are awarded at the end of Year 9 to reward not only ability but also scholarly attitude. Students are invited to participate in Inspire Days in their areas of particular interest during Year 8.
For entry at 16+, Scholarships are awarded in all of the above areas as part of the full application process.
Scholarships do not carry any financial benefit. The only exceptions to this are Music Scholarships which allow for free tuition in two instruments and free composition and Alexander Technique lessons.
Fee-assisted Places
Widening access to Wellington is at the heart of the Governors’ and Master’s vision for the future of the College. All financial aid in terms of fee reduction is therefore awarded via a means-testing procedure (details on our website and from the Bursar’s Office). Our aim is to enable an increasing number of families, who otherwise would not be able to afford the fees at Wellington, to send their son or daughter to the College. Means-tested fee assistance may be up to 100% of College fees, depending on individual family circumstances.
Entrance Requirements
Most pupils enter the school in September (at the start of Year 9) when they are between 13 and 14 years of age. There are occasionally places available for pupils at 14+ (Year 10). Around 40 pupils also join the College for the Sixth Form (applications open at the end of Year 10).
Registration (with £300 fee) is online. Those registered for 13+ entry (by the end of Year 5) sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test in the Michaelmas term of Year 6. Selection for a subsequent assessment day (usually in the Lent term of Year 6) is based in small part on the results of the Pre-Test and in much larger part on a school reference. Those who are successful are then offered a place conditional on a satisfactory reference from their current school at the end of Year 8. A waiting list also operates. Where appropriate, an overseas deposit is also payable. Pupils who have missed the registration date for 13+ entry have the opportunity of going through a Late Admissions Route.
Fees
2024/2025
All per term
Boarders £17,370.
Day £12,700.
Separate charges of £35-£38 per hour per instrument are made for musical tuition.
Affiliations/Memberships
HMC, BSA, ISC, AGBIS, AEGIS, ISBA
Downloadable Resources
OPEN DAYS
All visits are welcome, please contact the school
Visitor Day: Saturday 5 Oct 2024 - Time: 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
The Director of Admissions is always delighted to welcome visitors and prospective parents to the College and many opportunities are available for families to visit.
Please visit the College’s website to arrange a visit
Alternatively, contact the Admissions Office on 01344 444 013 or admissions@wellingtoncollege.org.uk
A virtual tour of the College can be seen HERE
SCHOOL VENUE HIRE
Weddings, Shooting, Conference, Catering, Film Location, Residential. Please contact the events team.